Clement sends out Naissance Royale in Dahlia

Naissance Royale (outside) will make her first start on the West Coast in Monday’s Dahlia (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Christophe Clement has enjoyed an excellent meet at Hollywood Park,
recording a 5-2-0 mark from his first nine starts, including four stakes wins.
On Monday’s closing-day program, Clement has a good chance to continue his
winning ways with NAISSANCE ROYALE (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) in the $150,000
Dahlia H. (G2). A Grade 2 winner last season, the French import captured the
Nassau S. (Can-G2) three starts back and exits a fast-finishing third against
better company in the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine. Garrett Gomez will
retain the mount aboard the 120-pound highweight, and Naissance Royale will face
11 rivals in the 1 1/16-mile turf affair.

BERBATIM (Bernstein) looked very promising when capturing the Providencia S.
(G3) last year at Santa Anita, but the Richard Mandella trainee has been a bit
inconsistent since then. The four-year-old miss does exit a couple of
encouraging performances, and Berbatim is a candidate to put it all together on
Monday under Aaron Gryder. MEMORETTE (Memo [Chi]), winner of the Beverly Hills
H. (G2) over the course earlier this year, also merits serious respect.

Trainer Bobby Frankel will send out Brazilian Group 1 heroine and U.S. stakes
winner MOVIE STAR (Brz) (Royal Academy), and multiple stakes queen FINLANDIA
(Royal Anthem) has invaded from New York for trainer Tom Bush. French stakes
winner GRANDE MELODY (Ire) (Grand Lodge) is a threat to show more for Patrick
Biancone off a third in the Audrey Skirball-Kenis S.